Sounds of the OHL Hounds
This has a good feel. The feel of a good team that is positioned for post season progress and potential prosperity. With the regular season in the Ontario Hockey League clicking towards a March 24 closing date, Soo Greyhounds enter play this week in third place in a dog-eat-dog Western Conference.
Going into three road games this week, the Greyhounds are third in the Western Conference with 88 points from an impressive record of 42-16-4. The Greyhounds may not catch the London Knights or Saginaw Spirit for first or second place but the Red and White is looking rather good ahead of the looming OHL playoffs.
There is much to like about the make-up of this Hounds team that is well put together by general manager Kyle Raftis via the draft process and trade market.
Between the pipes, Charlie Schenkel is one of the top three or four goalies in the Western Conference. Schenkel has a record of 27-11-3 with a 2.99 goals against average and .888 save percentage.
And the forward attack of the Hounds is well spread out while being led by two trade acquisitions in Jack Beck and Gavin Hayes.
Beck, an overage skater who was acquired from the Ottawa 67’s prior to the start of this season, has team leading totals of 24 goals, 56 assists, 80 points. Hayes, obtained from the Flint Firebirds at the January 10 trade deadline, has 17 goals, 16 assists, 33 points in 23 games as a Greyhound. All together this season, the signed National Hockey League draft pick of Chicago Blackhawks has 36 goals, 33 assists, 69 points.
Then there is the Greyhounds talented troika of defensemen — NHL draft picks Kirill Kudryavstev, Arttu Karki and Andrew Gibson. Combined, the trio has totalled 36 goals, 90 assists, 126 points from the blue line position thus far this season.
Great column Randy! This edition of the Hounds is definitely built for the playoffs. A heavy, grinding team that will wear you down over a 7 game series. An endless cycling game with enough flash and dash to give opponents fits trying to defend.
I believe it was you that first pointed out that the Hounds had a sparkling record against the other big three, Saginaw, London, Kitchener to the tune of 10 wins in 14 contests. Certainly, the Hounds will be buoyed and brimming with confidence when those inevitable matches take place. Charlie Schenkel back-stopping the team in every one of those victories is another reason to be confident. The Dawgs of the North are definitely ready for spring hockey